Ghana strengthens its green transition through Nature-based Solutions

Held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, the two-day workshop brought together more than 50 participants, including senior representatives from government ministries, technical departments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector actors, and the media. The objective was not only to build technical understanding of NbS, but also to initiate strategic dialogue on how to effectively embed these approaches into national and sectoral policies.

The workshop was led by Dr. Charles Karangwa, Global Head of NbS at IUCN, and Dorcas Owusuaa Agyei, IUCN Ghana Country Coordinator. Through interactive sessions and in-depth exchanges, participants were introduced to the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, which provides a robust framework to assess the design, implementation, and scaling of NbS projects. Attendees also received hands-on training on the use of the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), which helps determine whether specific initiatives genuinely meet the criteria of a Nature-based Solution, and how they can be strengthened for greater effectiveness and sustainability.

Equally significant was the policy dialogue component, which encouraged stakeholders to collectively reflect on opportunities to align current and future policies with the principles of NbS. A draft policy brief was reviewed and discussed extensively during the sessions. The brief outlined several practical entry points where NbS could be integrated into national strategies and sectoral frameworks, particularly in the areas of water resource management, fisheries, forestry, infrastructure development, and climate adaptation.

The opening ceremony demonstrated a strong commitment from Ghana’s leadership and international partners. Key figures in attendance included representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), the Forestry Commission, the High Commission of Canada, and World University Service of Canada (WUSC Ghana). Their messages emphasized the urgency of rethinking development through nature-positive approaches. Dr. Peter Dery of MESTI underscored the imperative for change, stating that mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions in national frameworks is no longer a choice, but a necessity given the growing environmental and climate-related risks the country faces.

Throughout the workshop, a recurring theme was the importance of ensuring cross-sectoral coordination and inclusive engagement in the implementation of NbS. Participants highlighted the need for a more collaborative approach among ministries and institutions, particularly in the design of policies that touch on land, water, and climate. The discussions also focused on updating existing policies, such as the National Water Policy, to reflect current challenges and integrate NbS in addressing issues like urban flooding and coastal erosion.

The event also served as a platform to celebrate and encourage national ownership and leadership. Patience Akwen Nambo, Project Director of the NbS initiative, praised the strong participation of Ghanaian stakeholders and their willingness to embrace innovative approaches. She emphasized that the success of Nature-based Solutions relies on the active engagement of diverse actors, including women and community members who are at the frontline of climate impacts and ecosystem degradation.

In terms of next steps, participants expressed strong interest in developing a National Action Plan and Implementation Guide dedicated to scaling up Nature-based Solutions across key sectors. There was also a call for the creation of a national funding mechanism specifically focused on supporting NbS initiatives, which could help catalyze investment from both public and private sources and ensure sustainability beyond pilot phases.

This workshop not only reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to climate resilience and biodiversity conservation but also highlighted the country’s growing leadership in advancing integrated, inclusive, and evidence-based nature solutions. The event stands as a model of how technical dialogue, policy review, and stakeholder capacity-building can converge to drive meaningful change at the national level, and potentially inspire similar processes across the region.